Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) and Eisai Co., Ltd. (Eisai) today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance the development of vaccines to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), a group of parasitic and bacterial infections that afflict more than 1.4 billion people who live on less than $1.25 a day.

"Sabin and Eisai share a common mission of increasing access to healthcare services and working to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations," said Michael W. Marine, Sabin Chief Executive Officer. "We are excited to enter into a partnership with Eisai and accelerate our ongoing work to develop vaccines for diseases that disproportionately impact the poor."

Through the MOU, Sabin and Eisai will collaborate on research and development for NTD vaccines and help deepen the pharmaceutical industry's role in global health initiatives for NTDs. In addition, Sabin Vaccine Development-a product development partnership of the Sabin Vaccine Institute-intends to test Eisai's vaccine adjuvant technology in preclinical studies with antigens that are currently in development. Eisai's adjuvant technology may serve as a valuable tool for enhancing immunogenicity of Sabin's vaccine antigens for human hookworm infection and schistosomiasis.

About Sabin Vaccine Institute Sabin Vaccine Institute is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization of scientists, researchers, and advocates dedicated to reducing needless human suffering from vaccine preventable and neglected tropical diseases through prevention and treatment. Sabin works with governments, academic institutions, scientists, medical professionals, and other non-profit organizations to provide short and long-term solutions for some of the globe's toughest health care challenges. Since its founding in 1993 in honor of the oral polio vaccine developer, Dr. Albert B. Sabin, the Institute has been at the forefront of global efforts to eliminate, prevent and cure vaccine preventable and neglected tropical diseases by developing new vaccines, establishing international networks, and advocating for effective and efficient delivery of preventions and treatments to the world's poor. www.sabin.org

Eisai Co., Ltd. Eisai Co., Ltd. is a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world. Through a global network of research facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, Eisai actively participates in all aspects of the worldwide health care system. Eisai employs approximately 11,000 employees worldwide.For further information, please visit www.eisai.co.jp.